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Miles Bridges vs. Josh Jackson: Friends will be foes Sunday

Michigan State overcame a sluggish start to blow out Miami, 78-58, in the NCAA tournament first round Friday in Tulsa, Okla. Video by Chris Solari/DFP

Kansas' Josh Jackson (11) goes up for a shot over UC Davis' Garrison Goode (44), Brynton Lemar (0) and Mikey Henn (24) in the first half of a first-round game in the men's NCAA college basketball tournament in Tulsa, Okla., Friday March 17, 2017.(Photo: Tony Gutierrez, AP)

TULSA, Okla. – It’s nothing new, really. They’ve been friends since fifth grade and played both with and against each other for years.

But this one is a little different for Miles Bridges and Josh Jackson. A lot different. The stakes are as high as they’ve ever been when Bridges’ No. 9 seed Michigan State team faces Jackson’s top-seeded Kansas.

Win and advance. Lose and go home.

“We know each other’s games, we know how competitive we are,” Bridges said today. Saturday. “And whoever wins gets to talk stuff at the end. … If you talk trash and you can’t back it up, it always hurts you.”

MSU (20-14) and Kansas (29-4) tip off at 5:15 p.m. Sunday at BOK Center. And the game within the game will be the biggest thing to watch.

It’s Spartan vs. Jayhawk, but it’s also Flint vs. Detroit. It’s a battle of freshmen who have been friends forever, but it’s also a battle of potential first-round NBA draft picks and one-and-done talents.

“Certainly, I don't see any way around them not being matched up against each other a lot,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “I'm not saying every possession the entire possession, but I really believe what's best for both teams is that for them to guard somebody naturally they're supposed to guard, and that's each other. So it'll be a fun matchup.”

Jackson, at a wiry 6-foot-8 pogo stick, ranks second on the Jayhawks at 16.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Like Bridges, the former Detroit Consortium High star elevates quickly and thrives at playing above the rim.

“He has a high motor. He never stops playing, plays with a lot of energy, stays on the glass,” Bridges said. “We just have to keep him off the glass. That's what gives him a lot of his hustle points. He's just a dog on the floor.”

Bridges, at 6-7, provides Jackson a bigger-bodied challenges. He has been the central point of MSU’s offense all season, leading the Spartans at 16.7 points and 8.3 rebounds a game. He’s also more of a three-point shooting threat than his friend.

“He does a lot of things well – he can dribble, he can shoot the ball, he’s freakishly athletic,” Jackson said of Bridges. “I think when you add all those things together in any type of player, he’s gonna be pretty hard to guard. I think Miles is a little bit stronger than I am. He’s left-handed, I’m right-handed. I prefer to go right a little more than he does.

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“In some ways, I do think our games are a lot similar, though.”

There was a time that their similar games were on similar paths. Bridges and classmate Cassius Winston leaned heavily on Jackson during the recruiting process last year to join them in East Lansing. They stood next to him during Jackson’s official visit last March as the Denzel Valentine-led Spartans wrapped up a Big Ten title on senior day.

Miami forward Anthony Lawrence Jr. (3) and Ebuka Izundu (15) watch as Michigan State guard Miles Bridges (22) recovers after dunking the ball late in the second half of MSU's 78-58 win over Miami in the NCAA tournament Friday in Tulsa, Okla. Tony Gutierrez, AP

Michigan State forward Nick Ward (44) hangs on to the rim after dunking the ball as Miami center Ebuka Izundu (15) watches in the second half of MSU's 78-58 win over Miami in the NCAA tournament Friday in Tulsa, Okla. Tony Gutierrez, AP

Michigan State guard Cassius Winston dribbles during the first half of MSU's 78-58 win over Miami in the first round of the NCAA tournament Friday, March 17 in Tulsa, Okla. Brett Rojo, USA TODAY Sports

Miami guard Ja'Quan Newton (0) is defended by Michigan State guard Alvin Ellis III (3) as he drives to the basket during the second half of the NCAA tournament game Friday in Tulsa, Okla. Brett Rojo USA TODAY Sports

Michigan State forward Miles Bridges shoots in front of Miami forward Kamari Murphy in the first half of a first-round game in the NCAA tournament in Tulsa, Okla., Friday, March 17, 2017. Sue Ogrocki, AP

Miami guard Bruce Brown controls the ball as Michigan State guard Matt McQuaid, right, defends during the first half in the first round of the 2017 NCAA tournament in Tulsa, Okla. on March 17. Brett Rojo, USA TODAY Sports

Mar 17, 2017; Tulsa, OK, USA; Miami Hurricanes head coach Jim Larranaga reacts during the first half against the Michigan State Spartans in the first round of the 2017 NCAA tournament at BOK Center. Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports

Mar 17, 2017; Tulsa, OK, USA; Michigan State Spartans mascot looks on during the first half against the Miami Hurricanes in the first round of the 2017 NCAA tournament at BOK Center. Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports

Mar 17, 2017; Tulsa, OK, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo reacts during the first half against the Miami Hurricanes in the first round of the 2017 NCAA tournament at BOK Center. Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports

Mar 17, 2017; Tulsa, OK, USA; Miami Hurricanes mascot reacts during the first half against the Michigan State Spartans in the first round of the 2017 NCAA tournament at BOK Center. Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports

Michigan State forward Nick Ward positions for a shot against Miami's Kamari Murphy in the first half of a first-round game in the NCAA tournament in Tulsa, Okla., Friday March 17, 2017. Tony Gutierrez, AP

There was great chemistry. There was a solid bond. It was visibly evident.

“I watched him grow, and he became one of the best players in the country. I’m just proud of him and all the things he’s accomplished,” said Winston, who has known Jackson since second grade. “Me and Miles, we were close with him. It was home and there were all types of things that could have leaned him this way.”

Having a chance to play with his buddies was one of Tom Izzo’s biggest selling points for Jackson, who played his final two high school years at Prolific Prep in California.

A little more than a month later, Jackson picked Kansas. He told Bridges and Winston a few days in advance, then told Izzo. It wasn’t easy.

“Just come back home and play for a school I’ve always been rooting for since I was a kid. And just being able to play with my friends – he just really wanted me to think about how fun that would be,” Jackson said of Izzo’s pitch.

“You know, I still think about it from time to time, but I think I made the right decision. … He’s a great guy and a great coach, and I’ve got a lot of respect for him. He was a little disappointed. But I think he understood and he respected my decision.”

Bridges and Winston both say they’ve thought about the what-ifs as well. They’ve kept an eye on Jackson and Kansas this season. He’s kept an eye on them and MSU as well.

They’ll be watching each other a lot more closely Sunday. And for about three hours, they won’t be friends or brothers. They’ll be enemies, trying to end the other’s season.